What to Say When a Computer Science Student Tells You:

The first word that came to my mind was "Moron" (I didn’t say this out loud, of course—I have some manners).

So, I was at the gym yesterday, and this final-year Computer Science student came up to me, asking how many sets I had left on whatever gym equipment I was using. You know how it goes—we had a bit of small talk and ended up becoming gym buddies. I asked him about himself, and he asked about me. Then, he shared his perspective on the future of AI, which was basically that he thinks the AI field is hitting a plateau and isn’t growing anymore.

Immediately, I had mixed feelings and mentally called him a "moron" (loudly in my mind). It’s like saying there won’t be any new industries emerging during the Industrial Revolution. But I can’t blame him—even a Computer Science student can be confused about the future of AI.

1. Is Skynet Coming?

This scenario is straight out of science fiction. Some people fear that AI could evolve into a malevolent force like "Skynet" from The Terminator, becoming an uncontrollable, autonomous entity that poses a threat to humanity. While it makes for great movie plots, there’s no credible evidence that AI is heading toward world domination or destruction. Most AI we interact with today is specialized in narrow tasks—it's powerful but lacks the self-awareness or intentions needed for a "Skynet" situation.

That said, with emerging technologies like transhumanism—the merging of human biology with AI-enhanced capabilities—and brain-computer interfaces like Elon Musk’s Neuralink, some people wonder how close we are to creating super-intelligent systems. But even these advancements are more about augmenting human potential rather than creating sentient AI overlords. So, unless something drastic changes, Skynet isn’t a realistic fear just yet.

2. Is AI Hitting a Plateau?

It might feel like AI is slowing down, especially if you’re only looking at consumer-facing technologies. But that’s often more about perception than reality. AI research is still advancing rapidly, but much of it happens behind the scenes. For example, there’s a race for more powerful CPU processing units and data clusters, with companies like Tesla and NVIDIA driving the demand for cutting-edge AI chips. NVIDIA's GPUs have become critical for training the latest AI models, which require immense computational power.

AI development is also heavily dependent on advancements in hardware, like quantum computing and neural processing units. The demand for processing power is exploding as AI models get larger and more complex, which often goes unnoticed by the general public. What some see as a plateau is actually a preparation phase for even greater innovations to come.

3. Is Someone Intentionally Slowing AI Down?

It’s not unreasonable to think that certain forces might be cautious about the speed at which AI develops. Governments, large corporations, or even researchers may be imposing ethical, regulatory, or security-driven limitations on how fast AI is allowed to progress. For example, some organizations have pushed for temporary pauses in AI development to ensure we're thinking carefully about the societal impacts of these technologies, including job displacement, data privacy, and ethical concerns.

But this doesn't mean AI is being stopped. In fact, the intense global competition to lead in AI—especially between the U.S. and China—means that it’s unlikely anyone would want to slow it down too much. It’s more about managing the growth responsibly. AI is powering everything from self-driving cars to advanced medical diagnostics. With Elon Musk’s AI data centers and the push for AI governance, the goal is to accelerate responsibly, not hold back progress.

4. AI is Growing Exponentially—You Just Aren’t Aware of It

This is the most probable scenario: AI is advancing at a faster rate than many realize. The general public may not notice these developments because they’re distracted by social media or simply not paying attention to the rapid pace of technological progress. While many are scrolling on Instagram or watching TikTok, entire industries are being transformed by AI. From healthcare breakthroughs in diagnostics and drug discovery to AI-powered financial systems that manage billions of dollars, AI is quietly revolutionizing the world.

The surge in demand for NVIDIA’s AI chips is just one example of how fast this field is evolving. Data centers, edge computing, and cloud-based AI solutions are becoming critical infrastructures. And if you’ve ever wondered why it’s hard to buy a powerful GPU, it’s because companies are racing to meet the skyrocketing demand for AI processing power. Meanwhile, Tesla’s use of AI in autonomous driving and SpaceX’s reliance on AI for space exploration shows that the limits of AI are being pushed in ways most people aren't even aware of.